A RECOVERING drug addict, who sped round a corner onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a car, was disqualified from driving. 

Daniel Sprooles admitted driving without due care and attention on Carpenter's Road, Brading, on the afternoon of March 5.

Police received a report from a member of the public there had been a collision involving a Nissan Micra, driven by Jennifer Attrill, and a Ford Transit van, driven by Sprooles.

The van came round the corner on the wrong side of the road, at speed, and 'T-boned' the Micra — crashing into its side, according to an eyewitness, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court this week.

The accident left a lot of debris in the road.

Both drivers were in ambulances at the scene, being assessed.

Paramedics raised concerns about Sprooles's behaviour and asked police to assist, as he was taking tablets inside the ambulance.

Police removed a packet of diazapam from Sprooles, which had eight tablets missing from a blister pack of 14. There was concern Sprooles had taken quite a few of the tablets, the bench was told.

Sprooles, 49, was taken to A&E at St Mary's Hospital, Newport, in relation to the possible drug taking.

He told police he was taking methadone and that there was a concern he may have been over the drug-drive limit with that in his system.

For Sprooles, of East Hill Road, Ryde, Barry Arnett said the DVLA had revoked his driving licence prior to the court hearing because of his inability to drive and that a ban was expected.

"He accepts his culpability. There was a large cocktail of prescriptive drugs in his system. At the time of the accident, he was on methadone — and had been for about two months.

"As a result of the accident, he is now off methadone, a positive for him, but he still takes a large number of prescribed drugs, including diazapam.

"He has also had problems with sight to one of his eyes, so he knows it is unlikely he will be allowed to drive again.

"There is clear evidence he went round the bend too fast and he should not have been where he was on the road. He was responsible for the accident and he accepts that.
"Following a urine test, it came back from the lab he had not been over the drug-drive limit."

Jobless Sprooles was banned from driving six months and fined £120, with £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Presiding magistrate, Janice Routledge, said: "There was evidence of poor driving, speed and damage caused.

"If you don't pay your fines, you will be brought back into court and you will be imprisoned."

Sprooles said to the bench: "It was a stupid incident which shouldn't have happened."